Find a personal chef for hire in Oakland, CA

Find personal chefs for hire in Oakland, CA

Find personal chefs for hire in Oakland, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best personal chefs for hire in your area.
Zip code

Budget per person

Find personal chefs for hire in Oakland, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best personal chefs for hire in your area.
Zip code

Budget per person

Top 10 personal chefs for hire in Oakland, CA

Clients agree: these Oakland personal chefs for hire are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.
C'era Una Volta Catering

C'era Una Volta Catering

New on Fash
20+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
Serving the Bay Area since 2004, C'era Una Volta Catering is your Italian specialist caterer. Recognized by Italian organizations L'Associazione Cuochi Fiorentini and Accademia Italiana della Cucina. Catering for your business or personal event needs. Contact us today.
Leandro S Cucina Italiana

Leandro S Cucina Italiana

5.0Exceptional(17)
8 hires on Fash
4+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
Michelle M. says, "Leandro and Margarita were fantastic! Highly recommend them for your next event. I hosted a dinner party for 9, a few of us had dietary allergies/ restrictions which Leandro was so nice and accommodating about! They were very communicative and helpful when selecting a menu. The food was incredible, they brought everything and took care of all dishes. It was a wonderful night!" Read more
Melanie Cecconi

Melanie Cecconi

5.0(3)
1 hire on Fash
Serves Oakland, CA
Celine S. says, "Melanie has catered two of my birthday parties, one a seated dinner with 8 guests and the other a buffet style for 20 people. The food was fabulous and she spent time to create a menu that was creative and could also adapt to the food restrictions of some of the guests. Her international background was very much appreciated and translated in some the dishes' flavors. Melanie is engaging, professional, well organized and I would happy to recommend to anyone. Looking forward to having her cater my birthday this year again!" Read more
Eat Play Events & Catering

Eat Play Events & Catering

5.0(2)
1 hire on Fash
12+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
Stephanie S. says, "Energetic, friendly, and passionate people who are a pleasure to work with. Plus our customers love the food, in their time working with our business, they created quite a dedicated following of people looking forward to their monthly offerings." Read more
Chef Bronson Macomber

Chef Bronson Macomber

New on Fash
19+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
At Chef Bronson Macomber, we bring a personalized touch to your culinary experiences in San Francisco and beyond. Specializing in wedding and event catering, as well as offering personal chef services, we focus on creating memorable dining experiences tailored to your unique needs. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, our expertise in crafting exquisite menus ensures that your event will be both delicious and unforgettable. Experience the art of personalized cuisine with us, where every dish tells a story.
Busog Sarap LLC

Busog Sarap LLC

New on Fash
Offers online services
12+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
At Busog Sarap LLC in Daly City, CA, we specialize in transforming your events into unforgettable experiences. With a dedicated team of experts, we offer top-notch wedding and event catering, stunning balloon decorations, and personalized chef services. Whether you need meticulous wedding coordinators, a charming food truck, or comprehensive event planning, we handle every detail with precision and flair. Let us take the stress out of your special day so you can focus on celebrating. Your perfect event starts with Busog Sarap LLC.
Wright's Catering

Wright's Catering

5.0Exceptional(7)
5+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
O'Lanre O. says, "Dedication to his craft." Read more
Honey Browns

Honey Browns

New on Fash
Offers online services
3+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
Welcome to Honey Browns, your premier choice for wedding and event catering in San Leandro, CA. With our personalized touch and attention to detail, we offer an array of services including wedding and event catering, personal chef services, wedding coordination, and event planning. Our dedicated team of two ensures that every aspect of your special occasion is expertly managed, from candy buffets to wait staff. Let Honey Browns make your event unforgettable with our bespoke planning and exceptional service.
Wild West Catering

Wild West Catering

New on Fash
35+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
I've been doing this since 1968. I love the work and detail. I get to use my imagination and create masterpieces. I cook for the monks on Sunday and I did a potato curry with apples, carrots and fresh pineapple 🍍 , a winner !
Ari

Ari

New on Fash
Offers online services
5+ years in business
Serves Oakland, CA
Hi Everyone! My name is Ari, and I have been a personal chef for 10 years. I’m passionate about food and believe that food is one of the things that brings people from all parts of the world together. I cook with fresh ingredients and mostly organic meats and produce. I have a very eclectic cooking style and I like to cook variety of different cuisine’s. I also enjoy customizing menus for my clients liking based on their preference. I’m currently mostly taking clients for meal preps. Please reach out if you are interested in my service. Thank you very much!

Your Personal Chef questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Fash.

How much does a personal chef cost?

On average, a personal chef costs $40 to $100 per hour or $50 to $130 per person. Some personal chefs charge per year, month, or day. Many charge $200 to $750 per week to prepare meals that you can reheat during the week. A personal chef's fee for a one-time dinner party is $300 to $1,600.

On the other hand, a private chef costs $5,000 to $10,000 per month or $60,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on their experience and how many hours they work. They usually work full time, up to 60 hours per week. Some private chefs charge per hour or day to create food for a one-time dinner party, but most work receive a regular salary from a single client.

What does a personal chef do?

A personal chef prepares meals for a family or client, either for a one-time dinner or on a regular basis. Many personal chefs will make a fresh meal once per week for clients and prepare reheat-able meals that their clients can heat up on their own later.

Is a personal chef worth it?

Personal chefs are worth it if you don’t have the time or ability to cook and have enough money to pay someone to cook for you. A personal chef can help you:

  • Save time on grocery shopping and cooking
  • Eat healthier foods and avoid fast food
  • Try different kinds of foods and expand your palette
  • Throw a dinner party or holiday dinner

How is a personal chef different from a private chef?

A personal chef is a cook that prepares food for one or more families, typically on a weekly or one-time basis. They may have several clients at a time and usually charge less than private chefs.

In contrast, private chefs typically prepare meals full-time for one family at a time which pays them a yearly salary. Private chefs charge more than personal chefs because they often have more experience and prepare more fresh meals instead of packaged meals made in advance.

How do I choose a personal chef?

You can follow these steps to make sure you hire the best possible personal chef:

  • Compare multiple quotes from reputable chefs near you.
  • Read chefs' reviews on Fash and Google.
  • Ask for a detailed quote and contract in writing.
  • Ask about their training and experience.
  • Ask what fees they charge and how they handle paying for groceries.
  • Make sure they have experience with any dietary needs you may have.

What questions should I ask personal or private chefs?

To make sure you find the candidate that will work best with your family, ask these questions:

  • What are your rates? Do you charge per person, per hour, per week, or something else?
  • Where did you receive your training or culinary education?
  • How many years of relevant experience do you have?
  • Where will be preparing the food?
  • Do you charge extra for groceries, or will I reimburse you after you shop?
  • Do you have experience with any specific dietary restrictions?
  • How soon can you start if we decide you're a good fit?
  • Do you charge extra for food delivery?
  • Do you have a set menu with rotating recipes, or could we make a customized meal plan?

Reviews for Oakland personal chefs for hire

Recent success stories from people in the Oakland area.
Isabella W.
We hired Leandro s Cucina Italiana for our wedding reception and the entire meal and service was amazing! My family LOVED the meal and we were so happy with how flexible and easy they were to work with! Plus the serving sizes were large and we had lots of leftovers! Highly recommend them!
Leandro s Cucina Italiana
Paola R.
My husband and I hired Melanie Cecconi for a special event at our apartment a few months ago. We wanted this to be a refined and elegant dinner as our guests' happiness was important to us - true, we wanted to impress them. Melanie told us she had returned from Paris a few months before, where she had perfectioned her cooking at the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu. And it showed! She came recommended by a friend, and we could not have been luckier. Our dinner was superb! Our guests were genuinely impressed by the sophisticated dishes offered (we all especially loved the stuffed seabream and veal chop with jus), and Melanie was so gracious. We will use Melanie's services again for any catering needs, and we could not recommend her business more. Merci Mélanie!
Melanie Cecconi
Tori D.
You can always count on personalized service and great quality when dealing with Eat Play Events & Catering - it's a pleasure doing business with them!
Eat Play Events & Catering
Anthony M.
Delicious dishes!! Great customer service. Catering and delivery., great option. Will wrk with a customer on specifics. Did I mention the delicious dishes! Overall great couple.
Wright's Catering
Tory M.
Chef Zachary was extremely professional and knowledgeable from the start, and created some of the best dishes I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. He is not only incredibly talented and comfortable in the kitchen, but was also so approachable and flexible with our party. He provided exactly the experience I was hoping for and I only plan on using him in the future. Thank you Chef Zachary!!
Farm to Table Provisions
Suzan K.
We hired Otherings to cater our sweet table for a holiday party at our home, something that we haven't had before. I met with Denise to have a better look at the options and choose what would best fit out party. The desserts were beautiful, delicious and such an elegant touch to our menu! Denise is amazing! Each one was absolutely divine! The flavors were rich and delectable. The presentation was so perfect. She is such a talented woman! I tasted each one again with tea the next morning. Amazing! Each one was better than the others. I couldn’t even say which was my favorite- they all were. Denise: Thank you very much for your all your time and efforts. We appreciate it immensely! We highly recommend her!
Otherings
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Oakland personal chefs for hire by service